Lithuania Orders Faster Rescue Ship for Baltic Sea Emergencies

The agreement with Dutch shipbuilder Damen Workboats was signed at Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence on October 29, 2026. The government’s Environmental Project Management Agency organized the procurement with technical assistance from the Lithuanian Navy.

The vessel will replace Šakiai, a rescue ship that has served since 1987. It is intended to improve Lithuania’s response to oil spills, maritime fires, missing persons and other emergencies in the Baltic Sea.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said pollution incidents could disrupt Klaipėda, Lithuania’s main seaport and an important gateway for trade, energy supplies and military transport.

From Seven Hours to Three

The replacement ship is designed to reach 23 knots, compared with Šakiai’s 10 knots. Two smaller boats carried aboard will be able to approach 40 knots.

Lithuanian authorities estimate that the vessel could reach the most distant part of the country’s exclusive economic zone, about 70 nautical miles offshore, in three hours. The current ship requires about seven hours.

The vessel will carry two independent systems for recovering pollution from the sea. Specialized radar will help locate contamination, while thermal and optical cameras will support searches for people in poor visibility.

A medical room will provide first aid. A helicopter landing deck will support medical evacuations and the movement of emergency personnel.

The ship will also be equipped to fight fires at sea and inside Klaipėda’s harbor. Lithuania says it could assist neighboring Baltic Sea countries during major emergencies.

The European Union is providing approximately €40 million, while Lithuania is contributing about €9.5 million. Damen expects construction to be completed by late summer 2029. Until then, the improved response capacity remains planned rather than operational.